Butyrka prison, Federal detention center in Tverskoy District, Moscow, Russia.
The prison building features four watchtowers at each corner and tall fortress walls, enclosing multiple cell blocks across several stories.
Architect Matvey Kazakov designed the current structure in 1879, transforming the previous fortress into a central transit facility for prisoners.
The prison facility includes a museum containing artifacts, documents, and photographs spanning its 250-year history of incarceration and social changes.
The prison contains 435 cells spread across multiple wings, maintaining separate sections for male and female detainees awaiting trial.
Harry Houdini demonstrated his escape abilities at Butyrka in 1908 by breaking free from a metal prisoner transport box in 28 minutes.
Location: Tverskoy District
Inception: 1771
Architects: Matvey Kazakov
Part of: Комплекс зданий Бутырской тюрьмы
Address: Novoslobodskaya Ulitsa, 45, Moskva, Russia, 127055 127055 Moskva
Opening Hours: Monday-Friday 09:00-16:00
Phone: +74999787546
Website: http://butyrka-sizo.ru
GPS coordinates: 55.78487,37.59372
Latest update: November 22, 2025 11:38
This collection brings together penal institutions that have marked the history of incarceration worldwide through their architecture, detention conditions, or roles in major historical events. From the Guantanamo Bay naval base in Cuba, established in 2002 for holding individuals suspected of terrorism, to high-security facilities like Red Onion in Wise County, Virginia, these sites document the evolution of penal systems across continents. Among the institutions transformed into memorial sites, Diyarbakır Prison in Turkey stands out for its conversion into a cultural center and museum since 2019. Its 24 dormitories spread over two floors, its cells, and corridors allow visitors to explore this chapter of Turkish penal history. In Argentina, Mendoza Prison, built in the early 20th century, reflects the prison practices of that era and the development of the regional judicial system. Other facilities remain operational and raise questions about prisoners' rights and incarceration conditions. Gldani Prison in Tbilisi caused national protests in 2012 after images exposing systemic abuses were released, leading to major reforms in the Georgian penal system. Ciudad Barrios Prison in El Salvador continues to function as a correctional center in the eastern region of the country. These sites, spread across multiple continents, provide documented insights into penal practices in various political and social contexts. From Rwanda to North Korea, passing through Colombia and the United States, they help understand the evolution of judicial and correctional systems while raising current issues related to detention and rehabilitation.
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